TO: Ballad Health Leaders (Managers, Directors, AVP, VP, SVP, EVP)
FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center
DATE: March 31, 2020
TITLE: Daily COVID-19 briefing – March 31, 2020
ACTION: Please post and cascade to all team members. This is a review of the major activities that occurred today related to the COVID-19 response.
Cluster of positive COVID-19 cases identified in Hawkins County
We have identified a cluster of positive COVID-19 tests in Hawkins County, including three Hawkins County Memorial Hospital team members.
The affected team members work in direct patient care roles; however, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken increasingly stringent measures to proactively safeguard patients and team members from the infection. In accordance with CDC guidelines for healthcare workers, team members and members of the medical staff will be tested for COVID-19 based on symptoms and epidemiological criteria. All testing will be coordinated with the Ballad Health infection prevention team, team member health and the Tennessee or Virginia Department of Health.
To further ensure safety for patients and the rest of the community, we are asking anyone who has been inside Hawkins County Memorial since March 20-March 31 to be especially vigilant for symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, sore throat and fever. They should also strictly adhere to physical distancing recommendations of 6 feet or more, and they should remain home unless engaged in essential activities or reporting for work at essential businesses.
Ballad Health reports first COVID-19 death
Unfortunately, we have reported the first death related to COVID-19 to the state department of health today. As COVID-19 continues to spread in our communities, we do expect more deaths, which is why physical distancing efforts and work being done to flatten the curve are so crucial.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient’s family and loved ones, and our sincere thanks goes out to the team who cared for this family.
I-choice incentive change
Effective March 31, the premiums associated with I-choice have been removed. The I-choice system for identification of additional scheduled shifts remains available for team members to volunteer to choose additional shifts above their Smart Square schedule to assist the organization to fill vacant shifts on the patient care units.
With the significant decrease in volume across every acute care facility at Ballad Health in both the inpatient and emergency departments, in addition to the federal legislative mandate and subsequent elimination of elective procedures across the health system, significant reduction in patient resource need and revenue are present. Additionally, 37,719.25 hours were reduced/eliminated in SmartSquare last week alone. Most of these shifts were nursing specific role shifts, both over-time and regular hours. Because of the significant reduction in additional shifts and the numerous low census shifts across the health system for regular FTE shifts, the incentive for additional shifts has been removed at this time.
As the healthcare environment continues to change, re-evaluation of the I-choice incentive may occur.
Personal scrub process for team members during COVID-19
All care providers who typically utilize their personal scrubs will continue to do so, however if you would like to change at work you may bring your scrubs and change at the beginning and end or your shift. Proper laundering instructions for personal scrubs are included below:
- Bring your personal scrubs from your house in a disposable grocery bag
- Clock in for your clinical shift
- Change into your scrubs prior to your shift in your facility
- When your shift is complete, wash hands with soap and water and change back into your personal clothing and place scrubs in the grocery bag.
- Perform hand hygiene
Upon entry to your home:
- Remove your shoes at the door
- Take your grocery bag of scrubs directly to your laundry
- Do not shake dirty laundry, this will minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through air
- Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Use whatever detergent you normally use. If possible, launder clothing using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely.
- Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items
- Dispose of grocery bag. Wipe laundry knobs, door handles, car steering wheel, and perform hand hygiene
Watch livestreamed press conference
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Ballad Health will host Facebook LIVE videos to communicate with our communities and local media. The broadcasts begin at 11:30 a.m. – if you missed Tuesday’s video, you can catch it here.
Moments of light – sweethearts for 62 years
After suffering a fractured hip, Mrs. Anna Smith underwent surgery and is now recovering well at Norton Community Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation department.
The hospital and rehab stay is the longest Mrs. Smith has been away from her husband in 62 years of marriage. However, the family understands the importance of physical distancing, and Mr. Smith has not left his home out of concern for his wife’s wellbeing once she returns.
Nurses close to the family said Mr. Smith is “missing his soulmate” and was looking forward to being reunited – which, for a few minutes on Sunday, they were. In honor of their 62nd anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were able to see each other through a glass door and share a sweet smooch.
Do you have a story or team member you’d like to recognize? Let us know by sending an email to BalladHealthCorporateEOC@balladhealth.org.
Additional points to note
- Thank you to all the local businesses and organizations, such as Harbor Freight, American Electric Power (AEP), J. Mark Wall & Ceiling, Lowe’s and Best Uniforms, who have donated supplies, PPE and scrubs for our health system and team members.
- The Safer at Home orders from local governments remain the best option as we must flatten the curve of COVID-19. Please stay mindful and attentive to these policies and remain home, unless it’s for essential travel. The “Work-Related Travel by Ballad Health Team Member” release is now available for electronic download on the Intranet. A waiver is not necessary for patients at this time.
- Do not dispose of any reusable PPE. Many of these items can be sanitized, cleaned and reused. If you are unsure of what items may be disposed of, please contact your facility infection prevention team.
- Bed linens for confirmed for suspected COVID-19 patients are to be handled as they would for any other patients. No special care is needed. Please do not place these items in red biohazard bags for disposal.
- Beards, stubble and facial hair cause a common problem when using PPE face masks, as this can prevent the mask from being able to seal to the face and pass the fit test, therefore team members are required to be free of facial hair until the COVID-19 crisis has subsided.
- All COVID-19 updates and information will continue to be shared to balladhealth.org/COVID19.
Total positive COVID-19 case count:
Tennessee – 2,239 total; 50 in Appalachian Highlands (per health department data)
- Carter – 1
- Cocke – 1
- Greene – 12
- Hamblen – 2
- Hawkins – 4
- Johnson – 2
- Sullivan – 13
- Unicoi – 1
- Washington – 14
Virginia – 1,250; nine in Appalachian Highlands (per health department data)
- City of Bristol – 1
- Lee County – 2
- Smyth County – 1
- Tazewell County – 2
- Washington County – 2
- Wythe County – 1
In case you missed it, follow the links below to learn more…
- Signs of gratitude: Thank-you messages popping up around Ballad Health
- Having child care challenges? Try this new resource on the Ballad Health Intranet
- Let us know if you have any photos or stories that you would like to see shared onto Ballad Health’s social media presence. Please do not submit photos of team members donning PPE as a photo prop.
